Cruden Parish Church

‘The new wine of God’s Kingdom!’

10.00am, Sunday 24th January 2021

Click here to see a recording of this service on You Tube

"And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.” (Mark 2: 21-22)

Welcome & Call to Worship

God of the open road,
God of the twisting path,
God of the narrow and upward way,
your people are gathered for worship!
In this hour, give us provision for the journey,
courage and faith and compassion, and endurance to face any hardship.
Open our eyes to see you walking beside us,
protecting us, encouraging us, loving us.


Let us worship God


Hymn 540: I heard the voice of Jesus say

  1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    ‘Come unto me and rest;
    lay down, thou weary one, lay down
    thy head upon my breast.’
    I came to Jesus as I was,
    so weary, worn and sad;
    I found in him a resting place,
    and he has made me glad.

  2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    ‘Behold, I freely give
    the living water, thirsty one;
    stoop down and drink and live.’
    I came to Jesus, and I drank
    of that life-giving stream;
    my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
    and now I live in him.

  3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    ‘I am this dark world’s light;
    look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
    and all thy day be bright.’
    I looked to Jesus, and I found
    in him my star, my sun;
    and in that light of life I’ll walk
    till travelling days are done.

Prayers of Approach & The Lord’s prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen

Bible Readings

John 2:1-11 ‘Jesus Changes Water Into Wine’

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Mark 2: 20-22    ‘New wineskins’

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Sermon      The new wine of God’s Kingdom!’

Church News

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn 448:  Shine Jesus shine!

  1. Lord, the light of your love is shining,
    In the midst of the darkness, shining;
    Jesus, light of the world, shine upon us;
    Set us free by the truth you now bring us,
    Shine on me, shine on me.
    Shine, Jesus, shine,
    Fill this land with the Father's glory;
    Blaze, Spirit, blaze,
    Set our hearts on fire.
    Flow, river, flow,
    Flood the nations with grace and mercy;
    Send forth your word,
    Lord, and let there be light!

  2. Lord, I come to your awesome presence,
    From the shadows into your radiance;
    By the blood I may enter your brightness,
    Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
    Shine on me, shine on me.

  3. As we gaze on your kingly brightness
    So our faces display your likeness.
    Ever changing from glory to glory,
    Mirrored here may our lives tell your story.
    Shine on me, shine on me.

Dismissal & Blessing

Heavenly Father You have taught us many things.

Teach us still…

Enlarge our hearts to be more inclusive and less exclusive.

Give us flexible minds to grasp the possibilities you lay before us.

Make us to shine like stars in the night as we hold out the gospel of truth.

Bless us, we pray, and strengthen us as we face the days ahead.

 

A Holy Land Blessing

May the babe of Bethlehem bring you peace;
May the child of Nazareth bring you joy;
May the man of Galilee bring you strength;
May the Christ of Calvary bring you courage;
May the risen Jesus bring you hope;
And the ascended Christ a foretaste of his glory.

Amen


Time for coffee…



CHURCH NEWS


Due to the latest lockdown caused by Covid-19 the church is closed for Sunday Worship until further notice.  Our Sunday morning services will now be broadcast live via Zoom at 10.00 am every Sunday morning. For a copy of the link please contact Robert or Sean. (07791 755976)

Recording of Services
As we are now using Zoom the service can no longer be relayed live via Facebook. However, from this Sunday onwards, we will be recording the service which will be made available via the church website. If you do not wish your name or face displayed on the recording, please switch off your camera or change your name you use for the broadcast.

Sunday 31st January – Holy Communion
Next Sunday will be a ‘virtual’ celebration of Holy Communion. If you wish to share communion, please have a piece of bread and some wine (or grace juice) available for the start of the service.

Pastoral Care
Please advise the minister if you know of anybody would appreciate a pastoral phone call. Sean can be contacted on 07791 755976 or sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk

Coffee & Chat
Takes place at the end of the service. Please stay online if you wish to participate.

Lent Discussion Group

Our 'online' Lent discussion group begins at 7.00 pm, Sunday 20th February, 2021.
We will be exploring the theme of God's help in times of crisis through selected readings from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
Everybody welcome - no previous Bible knowledge expected or required!
Members of other churches which may be currently shut due to the pandemic are respectfully invited to join the group.
Our discussions will be based on the book 'A way through the wilderness - experiencing God's help in times of crisis' by Paula Gooder. As the book is out of print a study guide will be provided.
More information, please contact Sean @ sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk
tel. 07791 755976